Light-flashing system



22, 1929. M. M. mmnwmmwm E-'" M 1,732,433

LIGHT FLASHING SYSTEM Filed Sept. P39, 192,63 E Sheets-Sham l ,kl/zd A Womans OC- 22, 1929- M. H. SHOENBERG ET Al. 1,732,488

LIGHT FLASHING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1926 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIHIHII be simple in construction to Patented oet 22, 1929i;

UNITED STATES A i1 ..f|'re: 1i-rr l o Fr-'ljcE mrow n. anomalia AND larianna sonora-or sAN-r'nmcrsco, aannam; un:

v vsonori AssIeNoa'ro sam snomrnnna A L l Lmnrwrnasnmd. srsrmr application mea maar sa, ma. serial' it. 13am.

elect may be algmented by having the lights capa le of ready installation b persons un familiar with electrical circults 'and must permit manuacturing in large uantities. It is an object o this invention to devise an electric light strin for decoration purposes comprisinga pvurality of separately controlled lamp circuits. n

` It is a `further object of this invention to devise an electric 1i ht string in the form' of a portable unit w ich may be attached to any standard lamp socket, the unit having interruptor elements for separately controlling a number of light'circuits.

It is another object of this invention to devise a lightin system comprising a plurality of light clrcuits controlled by a common switch means whereby certain lights may be either repeatedly flashed or burned steadily.

Further objects of this invention will ap-v pear from the following description in which we have set forth the preferred embodiment of our invention. Itis to be understood'thatV the invention is to be accorded a range of mechanical equivalents consistent Figure 4 is a plan view of one ofthe circuit interrupter elements. l Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 4. Figure' 6 is a bottom plan view Vof the mounting for the interrupter elements showing the construction of` the circuit controller switch.` Y

-Figure 7 is a circuit diagramshowing the manner in which different light circuits. are connected with the interrupter elements and the circuit controller, f

The-invention comprises generally a lurality of lamp circuits which are adapte to be energized from a common source of cur-v rent and are associated with a circuit controller which serves to independently flash the lamps vof each circuit.` The circuit con'- 4troller 1s also provided with switch-means -der of the clrcuits are permitted to flash'.

Theentire apparatus together with the circuit controller is constructed as a portable unit which may be installed by merely inserting a plug 1n a standard lamp'socket.

Referringl rst to the circuit diagram of Figure 7, t e system has been illustrated as being provided with five separate lamp circuits which have been designated as 1 to 5 inclusive. It is obvious however that an number of lamp circuitsl ma be employe depending upon the size of the object being decorated and upon the effect desired., These lamp circuits are all energized byv a common source of current such as the current supply lines 10 and are electrically associated with a circuit controller designated generally at 11. In practice each light circuit is electri-l cally connected by means of a flexible electric cord whereby it may be conveniently draped over a Christmas tree or other object to be decorated. Thus as, shown in Figure 1, each light circuit has been shown as comprising one or more lam sockets 13 electricall connected together y means of flexible cord7 14 and to the circuit controller 11 by means of cord 15. The sockets are adapted to receive electric lamps 16 which may be of 100' rated voltage o the lamps. The circuit con- -troller is shown as connected to a supply of current b means of a standard connection lug 17 w ich is connected with the controler as by means of fiexible cord 18.

Within the circuit controller 11 are mounted a number of circuit interrupter elements which are adapted to independently flash the lamps in each lamp circuit. These interrupter elements have been designated in the drawings by numerals 21 to 25 inclusive and are shown asmounted in spacedl relationship upon a disc 26 which is preferably made of insulating material. Any suitable construction of interrupter elements may be employed, although to secure reliable operation 1t is preferable to employ interrupter ele. ments such as shown in our 'copending apolication Serial Number 101,67 5, entitled Circuit interrupter. Such an interrupter element has been shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 and comprises a relatively fiat metallic wafer 27 having a recess 28 offset from the center of the same. Mounted on one face of this wafer so `as to overlie the recess 28 is a4 bi-metallic strip 29 carrving ay movable contact 30. Upon the other face of the wafer there is mounted a metallic spring contact strip 31 carrying a stationary contact 32 adapted to cooperate with Imovable contact 30. This spring strip 31 is insulated from the wafer 27 as by means of a sheet 33 of mica or other suitable material. The bi-metallic element 29 is provided with a suitable heatin9` resistance'such as a resistance wire 34 which is wound about the metallic member and connected in shunt with contacts 30 and 32. This type "of interrupter element is known as the shunt type although'it is oblvious that an interrupter element ofthe series type Amay be employed. Electrical connections are made to this interrupter element by making'electrical contact with the body of the metal wafer 27 and with the spring contact strip 31.

The interrupter elements are secured in spaced relationship to the` disc 27 by means of a metallic retainer 36. This retainer is provided with a number of pressed out flanges 37 adapted to surround and extend over the peripheral edge of each wafer 27. A plurality of integral projections 38 may be provided upon the wafer 27 to abut the flanges 37 and thus force the interrupter element into close contact against the face of 'the disc 26 and against the pressure of the lspring contact strip 31. The retainer 37 serves to make common electrical connection to all of the wafers 27 of the interrupter elements while connection to the spring contact 31 is made by means of a plurality of contacts parallel depending upon the 39 shown in the form of eyelets extending through the disc 26.

As will be presently described an interrupter element is associated with each lighting circuit so that the'current in each cirult is separately interrupted. Switch means as also been provided for short circuiting one or more pf the circuit interrupter elements so that the lamps of one or more lamp circuits may be burned steadily while the remainder are permitted tqfflash. This switch is referably incorporated with the mounting or the interrupter elements. The particular form of control switch shown comprises a movable contact member 41 preferably in the form of a disc carried upon the end of a rotatable member 42 which is screw threaded into the retainer 36. Rotation of member 42 is effected by means of the knob 43 whereby the ldisc 41 may be shifted relative to the mounting disc 26. Mounted in juxtaposition to the moving contact member 41 and electrically connected to the eyelets 39 are a plurality of resilient switch fingers 44, one switch finger being provided for each interrupter element. The free ends of these fingers are located different distances from the moving contact member 41 so that as this moving contact is shifted by rotation of knob 43 it serves to contact successively with the different fingers. As the moving contact member 41 is electrically connected with the retainer 37 by means of the threaded member 42, and as the fingers 44 are electrically connected with the eyelets 39 and the spring contact members 31 of each interrupter element, electrical connection between switch member 41 and any one of the fingers 44 serves to short circuit the contacts of the interrupter element associated with that finger.

The electrical connections for the switchinfr reerence to Fig. 7. Thus the retainer 36 has been indicated by the conductor 136 which serves to connect together the movable interrupter contacts. One side of each light circuit is also connected together by means of conductor 46 and is also connected to the other side of the linc. The other side of each light circuit has been shown as connected to a switch finger 44 by means of conductors 51 to 55 respectively. With the switch member 41 out of contact with all of the switch fingers 44, the interrupter, elements 21 to 25 inclusive serve to repeatedly vary the current supplied to each light circuit 1 to 5 arrangement may be best understood by,

respectively. -Each element is preferably adtact with say the nearest switch finger 44 which serves to shut out the contact of the in terrupter-element 21 thus causing an interrupted supply of current to flow in the lamps of circuit 1 but permits the other interrupter elements to flash the lamps of circuits 2 to 5 inclusive. By further rotation-of lrnob 43 two or more of the switch fingers may be brought into contact with the movable switch member 41 to cause the lamps of two or more circuits to burn steady and to permit the remainder to flash. By turning the knob to the limit of its movement it may be made to shut out all of the interrupter elements and thus to cause all of the lamps to burn steadily.

In practice it is preferable to in close the circuit controller by means of a metallic cas ing comprising for example a 'metal cupshaped member 5T having a cover portion 58 clipped over its rim, this cover portion being provided with a suitable aperture 59 through which the cords 15 and cord 18 extend. An insulating lining 60 of fibre or other insulating material is provided within the interior of the cup-shaped portion 57 to prevent short circuiting of the retainer 36 upon the casing. In order to limit movement of the vknob 43 there is provided an insulating washer 61 between the uppervface of the casing, and the lower face of the knob.

We claim:

1. A decorative device for Christmas trees in the form of a portable unit comprising a plurality of lamp circuits supplied from a single source of current, said circuits being formed by fiexible conductor cord and each having a plurality of spaced lamps, a circuit interrupter electrically associated with each circuit for periodically varying the current supplied to the lamps, said interrupters each having different time periods, and a portable mounting for said interrupters.

2. A decorative device for Christmas trees comprising a plurality of separate circuits supplied rom a common source of current, each circuit comprising a substantial length of flexible cord supplying an electric lamp, and a controller associated with all of said circuits, said controller` comprising a plural\ ity of bimetallic circuit interrupters each connected to a separate circuit, each interrupter serving. to repeatedly and independently vary current supplied to its respective circuit.

3; A decorative device for Christmas trees comprisin a plurality of separate circuits supplied rom a common source of current,

cuit, and a switch comprising a sin'gle member movable for renderin` all of said interrupters inoperative whereby said lamps may burn steadily.

4. A decorative device for Christmas trees comprising a controller box adapted to be connected to a supply of current, flexible conductor cords leading from said box and adapted to be draped over a Christmas tree, a plurality of spaced electric lamps electrically associated with said cords, thereby forming a plurality of separate lamp circuits, and a pluralit of periodic circuit interrupters having di erent time periods disposed within said box and electrically associated severally with said lamp circuits whereby the current supplied to the lamps is irregularly varied.

5. A decorative device for Christmas trees comprising a plurality of electric lamps, flexible conductor cord connectingsaid lamps and adapted for electrical connection with a source of current, said cord forming a plurality of separate lamp circuits, a bimetallic circuit interrupter electrically associated with each circuit for varying current supplied to its respective circuit substantially periodically, said interrupters having different timing periods whereby the device affords a varying irregular lighting effect.

6. A decorative device for Christmas trees in the form of a portable unit comprising a plurality of lamp circuits, a plug connected to said circuits, said circuits being formed by flexible conductor cord and each including a plurality of spaced lamps, and means for periodically flashing the lamps of each circuit at different time periods to secure an irregular lighting effect.

A decorative device for Christmas trees in the form of a portable unit comprising a plurality of lamp circuits, a plug connected to said circuits, said circuits being formed by flexible conductor cord and each having a plurality of spaced lamps, and an interrupter element in each circuit for periodically flashing the lamps of its respective circuit, said elements having different time periods to secure a varying irregular illuminating effect.

.In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

MILTON H. SHOENBERG. LESTER SCHON.

each circuit comprising a substantial length of flexible cord supplying an electric lamp, and a controller associated with all of said circuits, said controller comprising a plurality of bimetallic circuit interrupters each connected to a separate circuit, each interrupter serving to repeatedly and independently vary current supplie to 'its respective cir- 

